Display device and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A display device and a method of manufacturing a display device are provided. A display device includes: a window; a first pattern on a portion of the window; a second pattern on at least a portion of the first pattern and having a higher surface free energy than the first pattern; an adhesive layer on the window, at least a portion of the adhesive layer being on the second pattern to be in contact with a surface of the second pattern; and a display panel on the adhesive layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2016-0153220, filed on Nov. 17, 2016 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Aspects of embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to adisplay device and a method of manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display device is a device that displays an image using an organiclight emitting element or a liquid crystal element, for example. Displaydevices are applied to televisions, monitors, notebooks, tablet PCs,mobile phones, and the like.

A display device may include a window for protecting a display panel.Since mobile phones and tablet PCs are not fixedly installed and can beused while on the move, they are easily exposed to the externalenvironment. In addition, if a touch function is added, an externalforce is continuously applied. Therefore, the function of the window ismore important.

Generally, the window may be attached to the display panel by anadhesive material, such as a curable resin. In a conventional Y-Mapmethod, a curable resin is applied in a Y shape to a rear surface of thewindow, and the window is bonded to the display panel. Then, after anelectric field is applied to uniformly spread the resin, ultraviolet(UV) light is irradiated to cure the resin.

However, the Y-Map method tends to cause overflow because it is not easyto adjust the curable resin to an appropriate amount. When the resinoverflows to an area that is hard to be reached by UV light due todriving elements such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), it mayspoil the appearance of the display device due to uncuring of the resin.

In a method developed in contrast to the Y-Map method, a curable resinis applied to the entire surface of the display panel using a slitnozzle that can line-apply or surface-apply resin. In this case, it ispossible to apply resin in a relatively appropriate amount. However,since it is difficult to apply resin such that the resin is aligned withan edge of the display panel, the amount of resin is insufficientcompared with the Y-Map method. Therefore, the adhesion between thewindow and the display panel may be reduced.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, a displaydevice is provided in which strong adhesion is maintained between awindow and a display panel, even when an insufficient amount of adhesivematerial is interposed between the window and the display panel.

Aspects of the present inventive concept also provide a display devicehaving improved adhesion between a window and a display panel.

However, aspects of the present inventive concept are not restricted tothose set forth herein. The above and other aspects of the presentinventive concept will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the inventive concept pertains by referencing thedescription of the inventive concept given below.

According to one or more embodiments of the present inventive concept, adisplay device comprises: a window; a first pattern disposed on aportion of the window; a second pattern disposed on at least a portionof the first pattern and having a higher surface free energy than thefirst pattern; an adhesive layer disposed on the window and at least aportion of which is disposed on the second pattern to be in contact witha surface of the second pattern; and a display panel disposed on theadhesive layer.

According to another aspect of the present inventive concept, a displaydevice comprises: a window comprising a display area and a non-displayarea in a plan view; a light-shielding pattern disposed on thenon-display area of the window and comprising a first area and a secondarea disposed further inward than the first area; a resin layer disposedon the window and at least a portion of which is disposed on the secondarea to be in contact with a surface of the second area; and a displaypanel disposed on the resin layer, and an edge of the display panel onat least one side protrudes further outward than a corresponding edge ofthe resin layer. According to an aspect, the second area has a highersurface free energy than the first area.

According to another aspect of the present inventive concept, a methodof manufacturing a display device comprises: applying a photocurableresin to a display panel using a resin discharge nozzle; bonding awindow having a first pattern and a second pattern to the display panelsuch that at least a portion of the applied resin is in contact with asurface of the second pattern; and curing the applied resin byirradiating light to the applied resin, and the first pattern and thesecond pattern which is disposed on at least a portion of the firstpattern and has a higher surface free energy than the first pattern aredisposed on a surface of the window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of some embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the display device of FIG.1, taken along the line II-II′;

FIGS. 3 through 6 are partial cross-sectional views of display devicesaccording to embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the display device of FIG.7, taken along the line VIII-VIII′; and

FIGS. 9 through 13 are schematic views for explaining operations of amethod of manufacturing a display device according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Features of the invention and methods of accomplishing the same may beunderstood more readily by reference to the following description ofsome preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The inventionmay, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to thoseskilled in the art.

It is to be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer,the element or layer can be directly on, connected, or coupled toanother element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layersmay be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being“directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” anotherelement or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.As used herein, “connected” may refer to elements being physically,electrically, and/or fluidly connected to each other.

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

It is to be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,”“third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, orsection. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or sectiondiscussed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, including “at least one,” unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. “At least one”is not to be construed as limiting “a” or “an.” “Or” means “and/or.” Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present inventive concept will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Display devices according to embodiments of the present inventiveconcept may be light receiving display devices, such as liquid crystaldisplays and electrophoretic devices, or may be self-luminous displaydevices, such as organic light emitting displays and plasma displays. Aframeless organic light emitting display without a top cover forcovering part of an upper portion of a display device or a narrow bezelorganic light emitting display having a thin bezel will herein bedescribed as an example for purposes of illustration. However, displaydevices according to embodiments are not limited to the framelessorganic light emitting display or the narrow bezel organic lightemitting display.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device 1 according to an embodiment;and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II′of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device 1 includes a window 300and a chassis 600.

The window 300 can protect a display panel 100 from external impactwhile allowing an image displayed by the display panel 100 included inthe display device 1 to be viewed. In the drawings, the window 300 maybe shaped like, but is not limited to, a quadrilateral having eachcorner rounded or curved in a plan view.

The window 300 includes a display area DA and a non-display area NA in aplan view. The display area DA is an area in which an image displayed bythe display panel 100 is visible, and the non-display area NA is an areain which the image is not visible. In an embodiment, the non-displayarea NA is disposed around the display area DA. For example, when thedisplay area DA is formed in a quadrilateral shape, the non-display areaNA may be disposed outside the display area DA along edges of thedisplay area DA.

A hole H1 corresponding to a speaker or camera area of the displaydevice 1, and a hole H2 corresponding to a button area may be formed inthe non-display area NA of the window 300.

A plurality of pixels (not illustrated) may be defined in the displayarea DA. The pixels may be arranged in a matrix form. Signal lines fordriving each pixel, for example, a gate line (not illustrated) and adata line (not illustrated) may be disposed at the boundary of eachpixel.

A portion to which an external driving element, such as a driving chipor a printed circuit board (PCB) 500, is connected may be located in thenon-display area NA.

The chassis 600 may accommodate elements of the display device 1including the window 300. The chassis 600 may be shaped as a platehaving a bottom and sidewalls. The sidewalls of the chassis 600 (e.g., aplanar chassis) may surround the edges of the window 300 in a plan view.

The display device 1 may further include a first pattern 10 disposed ona lower surface of the window 300, and a second pattern 20 disposed on alower surface of the first pattern 10. The first pattern 10 may overlapthe non-display area NA of the window 300 in a plan view. The secondpattern 20 may be disposed in the non-display area NA along the edges ofthe display area DA in a plan view.

The cross-sectional structure of the display device 1 including thefirst pattern 10 and the second pattern 20 will now be described infurther detail with reference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the display device 1 includes the chassis 600, thePCB 500, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) F, a protective layer400, the display panel 100, an adhesive layer 200, the window 300, thefirst pattern 10, and the second pattern 20.

The chassis 600 is disposed in a lower part of the display device 1. Asdescribed above, the chassis 600 may be shaped as a plate having abottom and sidewalls so as to accommodate elements of the display device1.

The PCB 500 may be disposed on the bottom of the chassis 600. The PCB500 may transmit a driving signal or the like utilized for the displaypanel 100 to display an image to the display panel 100 through the FPCBF.

The protective layer 400 may be disposed on the PCB 500. The protectivelayer 400 is a layer for protecting elements within the display device 1from physical and chemical impacts externally applied and may include acushion layer (not illustrated) or a protective film (not illustrated).

The display panel 100 may be disposed on the protective layer 400. Thedisplay panel 100 is an element for realizing an image and may include afirst substrate 110 and a second substrate 120 disposed on the firstsubstrate 110.

The first substrate 110 may be a substrate on which thin-filmtransistors (TFTs), i.e. switching elements, are formed in a matrixform. A data line and a gate line may be respectively connected to asource terminal and a gate terminal of each of the TFTs, and a pixelelectrode (not illustrated) made of a conductive material may beconnected to a drain terminal of each of the TFTs.

A gate pad (not illustrated) and a data pad (not illustrated) connectedto an end of the gate line and an end of the data line, respectively,may be disposed in an area corresponding to the non-display area NA ofthe first substrate 110 in a plan view. The gate pad and the data padmay be electrically connected to the PCB 500 by the FPCB F to receive adriving signal or the like.

The second substrate 120 may be disposed to face the first substrate110. A common electrode (not illustrated) made of a conductive materialmay be formed on the second substrate 120 to face the pixel electrodeformed on the first substrate 110. In an embodiment, RGB pixels forimplementing colors may be formed on the second substrate 120 in theform of thin films.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the display panel 100 mayfurther include an organic light emitting element interposed between thefirst substrate 110 and the second substrate 120. In this case, thesecond substrate 120 may include a protective layer, a sealing layer, anencapsulation layer, or the like for protecting the organic lightemitting element.

In one or more embodiments, the display panel 100 may further include anattached or embedded touch sensing unit (not illustrated) or polarizingelement (not illustrated).

The adhesive layer 200 may be disposed on the display panel 100. Theadhesive layer 200 is a layer for bonding and fixing the display panel100 and the window 300 together and may include an adhesive material,such as a photocured resin.

The photocured resin may be a material that exhibits adhesive strength.In an embodiment, the photocured resin is obtained by polymerizing andthus curing a photocurable resin consisting of monomers, oligomers, etc.by irradiating light of a specific wavelength to the photocurable resin.

In an embodiment, the photocurable resin may be a material that is curedby ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.

In an embodiment, the photocurable resin may include acryl and/or a(meth) acrylic compound.

In an embodiment, the photocurable resin may further include aphotoinitiator that generates free radicals or ions in response tophotic stimulation, such as UV light. Examples of the photoinitiatorinclude, but are not limited to, alpha-hydroxy ketone, mono- or bisacylphosphine oxide, benzophenone, thioxanthone, ketosulfone, benzyl ketal,phenylglyoxylate, borate, titanocene and oxime ester-basedphotoinitiators.

In addition to the photocured resin, resins cured by stimulation oftemperature, humidity, physical impact, chemicals, etc. can be includedin the adhesive layer 200, and any material that is cured to becomeadhesive can be included in the adhesive layer 200 regardless of thetype of stimulation that triggers the curing.

In an embodiment, a surface of the adhesive layer 200 on at least oneside may be disposed further inward than a surface of the display panel100 on the same side. That is, an edge of the display panel 100 mayprotrude further outward than an edge of the adhesive layer 200 whenseen in a cross-sectional view.

The adhesive layer 200 may be included on the second substrate 120 in aplan view. In an embodiment, an end of the second substrate 120 mayextend further outward than an end of the adhesive layer 200 on allsides by a distance (e.g., a predetermined distance) d.

However, the arrangement of the adhesive layer 200 and the display panel100 is not limited to the above-described structure. In an embodiment,when the amount of material that forms the adhesive layer 200 isappropriate, the edge of the display panel 100 and the edge of theadhesive layer 200 may be aligned with each other. When the materialthat forms the adhesive layer 200 overflows, the edge of the adhesivelayer 200 may protrude further outward than the edge of the displaypanel 100.

The window 300 may be disposed on the adhesive layer 200. The window 300may have an area that covers the elements of the display device 1 housedby the chassis 600. As described above, the window 300 can protect thedisplay panel 100 from external impact while allowing an image displayedby the display panel 100 to be visible.

The first pattern 10 may be disposed on the lower surface of the window300. The first pattern 10 may be a patterned layer printed on the lowersurface of the window 300. The first pattern 10 may overlap thenon-display area NA of the window 300 in a plan view. In one or moreembodiments, the first pattern 10 may have the same area as thenon-display area NA to completely overlap the non-display area NA.

The first pattern 10 may be a light-shielding pattern for blocking lighttransmission. In an embodiment, the first pattern 10 may include carbonblack, dye, pigment, paint, and the like to have a color thatsubstantially blocks light transmission. When the first pattern 10 is alight-shielding pattern, the non-display area NA may be an area wherelight emitted from the display panel 100 is blocked by the first pattern10.

The first pattern 10 may have a smooth surface with a low surface energyor surface tension, such that the first pattern 10 can be easily cleanedwhen the surface of the first pattern 10 is stained with the materialthat forms the adhesive layer 200. In an embodiment, the surface tensionof the first pattern 10 may be 30 dyne/cm or less.

The second pattern 20 may be disposed on the lower surface of the firstpattern 10. The second pattern 20 may be a patterned layer printed onthe lower surface of the first pattern 10. The second pattern 20 mayoverlap at least a portion of the first pattern 10. In an embodiment, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second pattern 20 is disposed along inneredges of the first pattern 10.

The second pattern 20 may overlap a portion of the adhesive layer 200.In an embodiment, an outer portion of the adhesive layer 200 may bedisposed on a lower surface of the second pattern 20 to overlap at leasta portion of the second pattern 20. In this case, surfaces of theadhesive layer 200 and the second pattern 20 may contact each other inthe overlapping portion.

A surface of the second pattern 20 which faces the adhesive layer 200may have a higher surface energy or surface tension than that of thefirst pattern 10. In an embodiment, the second pattern 20 may have asurface tension of 34 dyne/cm or more, and the first pattern 10 may havea surface tension of less than 34 dyne/cm. In another embodiment, thesurface tension of the first pattern 10 may be 30 dyne/cm or less, andthe surface tension of the second pattern 20 may exceed 30 dyne/cm. Thatis, an appropriate value can be selected for the surface tension of thesecond pattern 20 within a range in which the surface tension of thesecond pattern 20 is higher than that of the first pattern 10.

In one or more embodiments, the surface energy or surface tension of thesecond pattern 20 may be increased by increasing the surface roughnessof the second pattern 20 by forming irregularities on the surface of thesecond pattern 20 or may be increased by forming the second pattern 20of a rough material on the lower surface of the first pattern 10.

In an embodiment, to increase the surface roughness, fumed silica may beinjected into the surface of the second pattern 20, as an example.

In the display device 1 described above, the second pattern 20 having arelatively high surface energy is securely bonded to a portion of theadhesive layer 200. Therefore, the adhesive layer 200 can be preventedfrom being easily separated from the window 300 having the secondpattern 20.

In addition, since the first pattern 10 has a smooth surface with arelatively low surface energy, the adhesive material that forms theadhesive layer 200 can be easily removed from the first pattern 10 whenthe adhesive material overflows to the surface of the first pattern 10.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a display device 2 accordingto an embodiment.

The display device 2 of FIG. 3 is the same as the display device 1 ofFIG. 2 except that it does not include the second pattern 20 andincludes a first pattern 11 divided into a first area P1 and a secondarea P2. Thus, any redundant description will be omitted below.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first pattern 11 may include the first area P1and the second area P2 disposed on an inner side of the first area P1.

The second area P2 may overlap a portion of the adhesive layer 200. Anouter portion of the adhesive layer 200 may be disposed on a lowersurface of the second area P2 to overlap at least a portion of thesecond area P2. In this case, surfaces of the adhesive layer 200 and thesecond area P2 may contact each other in the overlapping portion.

A surface of the second area P2 which faces the adhesive layer 200 mayhave a higher surface energy or surface tension than that of the firstarea P1. In an embodiment, the second area P2 may have a surface tensionof 34 dyne/cm or more, and the first area P1 may have a surface tensionof less than 34 dyne/cm. However, in another embodiment, the surfacetension of the first area P1 may be 30 dyne/cm or less, and the surfacetension of the second area P2 may exceed 30 dyne/cm.

The second area P2 may be formed by, but is not limited to, injectingfumed silica into a portion of a smooth surface of the first pattern 11.

The first area P1 and the second area P2 may be an integrated layer madeof substantially the same material except for their surfaces. In anembodiment, both the first area P1 and the second area P2 may functionas light-shielding patterns for blocking light transmission.

The display device 2 of FIG. 3 described above can also prevent thewindow 300 and the adhesive layer 200 from being easily separated fromeach other through the second area P2 having a high surface energy, andcan allow an overflowed adhesive material to be easily removed throughthe first area P1 having a low surface energy. In addition, by formingan area having a different surface in the first pattern 11 instead offorming a second pattern, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon inwhich a second pattern is peeled off from a first pattern.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a display device 3 accordingto an embodiment.

The display device 3 of FIG. 4 is the same as the display device 1 ofFIG. 2 except that a second pattern 21 completely covers the firstpattern 10. Thus, any redundant description will be omitted below.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second pattern 21 may be disposed on a lowersurface of the first pattern 10 to completely cover the first pattern10. In an embodiment, the surface energy or surface tension of each ofthe second pattern 21 and the first pattern 10 is as described abovewith reference to FIG. 2.

The display device 3 of FIG. 4 described above can also prevent thewindow 300 and the adhesive layer 200 from being easily separated fromeach other through the second pattern 21 having a high surface energy.Furthermore, since the second pattern 21 completely covers the firstpattern 10, strong adhesion can be maintained between the adhesive layer200 and the second pattern 21, even when an outer portion of theadhesive layer 200 is extended or overflows due to a large amount ofmaterial that forms the adhesive layer 200.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a display device 4 accordingto an embodiment.

The display device 4 of FIG. 5 is the same as the display device 1 ofFIG. 2 except that it does not include the second pattern 20 andincludes a first pattern 12 having a rough surface. Thus, any redundantdescription will be omitted below.

Referring to FIG. 5, the entire lower surface of the first pattern 12may be a rough surface having a high surface energy or a high surfacetension. In an embodiment, the first pattern 12 may have a surfacetension of 30 dyne/cm or more, and, in an embodiment, a surface tensionof 34 dyne/cm or more.

The first pattern 12 may overlap a portion of the adhesive layer 200. Anouter portion of the adhesive layer 200 may be disposed on the lowersurface of the first pattern 12 to overlap at least a portion of thefirst pattern 12. In this case, surfaces of the adhesive layer 200 andthe first pattern 12 may contact each other in the overlapping portion.

The display device 4 of FIG. 5 described above can also prevent thewindow 300 and the adhesive layer 200 from being easily separated fromeach other through the first pattern 12 having a high surface energy. Inaddition, since a second pattern is not additionally formed, aphenomenon in which a second pattern is peeled off from the firstpattern 12 can be prevented. Furthermore, strong adhesion can bemaintained between the adhesive layer 200 and the first pattern 12, evenwhen the outer portion of the adhesive layer 200 is extended oroverflows due to a large amount of material that forms the adhesivelayer 200.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a display device 5 accordingto an embodiment.

The display device 5 of FIG. 6 is the same as the display device 1 ofFIG. 2 except that a first pattern 13 has a higher surface energy than asecond pattern 22, and the second pattern 22 is disposed along outeredges of the first pattern 13. Thus, any redundant description will beomitted below.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second pattern 22 may be disposed on a lowersurface of the first pattern 13 along the outer edges of the firstpattern 13. Accordingly, the first pattern 13 may be in contact with aportion of an adhesive layer 200. An outer portion of the adhesive layer200 may be disposed on the lower surface of the first pattern 13 to bein contact with the surface of the first pattern 13.

A surface of the first pattern 13 which faces the adhesive layer 200 mayhave a higher surface energy or surface tension than that of the secondpattern 22. In an embodiment, the first pattern 13 may have a surfacetension of 34 dyne/cm or more, and the second pattern 22 may have asurface tension of less than 34 dyne/cm. In another embodiment, thesurface tension of the second pattern 22 is 30 dyne/cm or less, and thesurface tension of the first pattern 13 may exceed 30 dyne/cm. That is,an appropriate value can be selected for the surface tension of thefirst pattern 13 within a range in which the surface tension of thefirst pattern 13 is higher than that of the second pattern 22.

The display device 5 of FIG. 6 described above can also prevent thewindow 300 and the adhesive layer 200 from being easily separated fromeach other through the first pattern 13 having a high surface energy,and can easily remove an overflowed adhesive material through the secondpattern 22 having a low surface energy.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a display device 6 according to an embodiment;and FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along the lineVIII-VIII′ of FIG. 7.

The display device 6 of FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as the display device1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that it further includes an auxiliary sealinglayer 210. Thus, any redundant description will be omitted below.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the display device 6 may further include theauxiliary sealing layer 210 which covers a side surface of the displaypanel 100 and a side surface of the adhesive layer 200. The auxiliarysealing layer 210 may cover at least a portion of the side surface ofthe display panel 100 and at least a portion of the side surface of theadhesive layer 200.

When the adhesive layer 200 is formed to have a smaller area than thedisplay panel 100 in a plan view due to a small amount of material thatforms the adhesive layer 200, the adhesion between the adhesive layer200 and the display panel 100 may be insufficient. Therefore, theadhesion between the display panel 100 and the adhesive layer 200 may besupplemented by the auxiliary sealing layer 210 which is in contact withboth the display panel 100 and the adhesive layer 200.

In one or more embodiments, the auxiliary sealing layer 210 may contacta surface of at least one of the first pattern 10 and the second pattern20 disposed on the window 300 while contacting the side surface of eachof the display panel 100 and the adhesive layer 200. Accordingly, thedisplay panel 100, the adhesive layer 200, and the window 300 can besecurely bonded to each other.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary sealing layer 210 may be disposed in anarea corresponding to each corner of the display panel 100 and theadhesive layer 200 in a plan view. However, the position of theauxiliary sealing layer 210 is not limited to this example, and, inanother embodiment, the auxiliary sealing layer 210 can be disposedalong all edges of the display panel 100 and the adhesive layer 200.

The auxiliary sealing layer 210 may include an adhesive material, suchas photocured resin. In embodiments, the auxiliary sealing layer 210 mayinclude one or more of the materials exemplified as an adhesive materialor photocured resin that can be included in the adhesive layer 200.

In an embodiment, the adhesive layer 200 and the auxiliary sealing layer210 may include materials obtained by curing photocurable resins of thesame components through light irradiation, or may include materialscured by irradiation of light of the same wavelength. However, in otherembodiments, the adhesive layer 200 and the auxiliary sealing layer 210may include different materials or materials cured by irradiation oflight of different wavelengths.

Herein, a method of manufacturing a display device of the presentinventive concept will be described in further detail.

FIGS. 9 through 13 are schematic views for explaining operations of amethod of manufacturing a display device according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 9, a photocurable resin R1 is applied to a surface ofa display panel 100 including a first substrate 110 and a secondsubstrate 120 bonded together.

In an embodiment, the photocurable resin R1 may be applied onto asurface of the second substrate 120 which is opposite a surface facingthe first substrate 110 by using a resin discharge nozzle 1000. Theresin discharge nozzle 1000 is a device that receives a liquid resinfrom a supply line 2000 and discharges or dispenses the resin. Unlike aconventional Y-Map nozzle, the resin discharge nozzle 1000 may be a slitnozzle that can surface-apply or line-apply resin.

A case where UV-curable resin is used as the photocurable resin R1 willbe described below as an example.

Referring to FIG. 10, the photocurable resin R1 applied to the secondsubstrate 120 is pre-cured.

In an embodiment, UV light is irradiated to the photocurable resin R1 onthe second substrate 120 for a short time to perform a pre-curingoperation in which the photocurable resin R1 is incompletely cured froma liquid state to a gel state to be a pre-cured photocurable resin R2.In an embodiment, the pre-curing operation may be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 11, a window 300 is bonded to the display panel 100coated with the photocurable resin R2. The window 300 has a firstpattern 10 and a second pattern 20 on its lower surface. The window 300is bonded to the display panel 100 such that the second pattern 20contacts at least a portion of the photocurable resin R2.

Referring to FIG. 12, an adhesive layer, such as the adhesive layer 200described above, is formed by curing the photocurable resin R2 disposedbetween the display panel 100 and the window 300.

In an embodiment, a resin that overlaps a display area DA of the window300 may be cured by irradiating UV light to an upper surface of thewindow 300, and a resin that overlaps a non-display area NA of thewindow 300 may be cured by irradiating UV light to a side surface of thewindow 300.

Referring to FIG. 13, in an embodiment, an auxiliary sealing layer 210may be formed by applying an auxiliary sealing material to side surfacesof the display panel 100 and the adhesive layer 200 and then curing theauxiliary sealing material.

The auxiliary sealing material may include a photocurable resin. A casein which the photocurable resin included in the auxiliary sealingmaterial is the same material as the photocurable resin applied to thedisplay panel 100 or is a material cured by light of the same wavelengthas that of the light used to cure the photocurable resin applied to thedisplay panel 100 will be described below as an example.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary sealing material may be applied to anarea corresponding to each corner of the display panel 100 and theadhesive layer 200.

After the application of the auxiliary sealing material, the auxiliarysealing material may be cured by irradiating UV light again. However, asequence of forming the auxiliary sealing layer 210 is not limited tothe above example. For example, the auxiliary sealing material may beapplied to the side surfaces of the display panel 100 and thephotocurable resin before the window 300 is bonded to the display panel100. Then, the window 300 may be bonded to the display panel 100, and UVlight may be irradiated to form the auxiliary sealing layer 210.

According to embodiments, a pattern having an increased surface energyis placed on a window to be in contact with an adhesive layer.Therefore, the adhesion between the window, the adhesive layer, and adisplay panel can be improved significantly.

However, the effects of the present inventive concept are not restrictedto those set forth herein. The above and other effects of the presentinventive concept will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the inventive concept pertains by reference to theclaims.

While the present invention has been particularly illustrated anddescribed with reference to some exemplary embodiments thereof, it willbe understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changesin form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive senseonly and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a window; a firstpattern over a portion of the window, the first pattern including alower surface facing the window and an upper surface opposite to thelower surface, the first pattern being a light-shielding pattern whichblocks light transmission; a second pattern over at least an inwardmostportion of the upper surface of the first pattern, the second patternincluding a lower surface facing the upper surface of the first patternand an upper surface opposite to the lower surface of the secondpattern; an adhesive layer over the window, at least a portion of theadhesive layer being over the upper surface of the second pattern; and adisplay panel over the adhesive layer, wherein the at least a portion ofthe adhesive layer directly contacts a portion of the upper surface ofthe second pattern, and wherein the portion of the upper surface of thesecond pattern which directly contacts the at least a portion of theadhesive layer has a higher surface free energy and/or a higher surfaceroughness than the upper surface of the first pattern.
 2. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the portion of the upper surface of thesecond pattern has a surface tension of 34 dyne/cm or more.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein an edge of the display panel over atleast one side protrudes further outward than a corresponding edge ofthe adhesive layer.
 4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the secondpattern completely covers the first pattern.
 5. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a resin cured byirradiation of light.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein thelight is ultraviolet (UV) light.
 7. The display device of claim 1,further comprising an auxiliary sealing layer covering a side surface ofthe display panel and a side surface of the adhesive layer.
 8. Thedisplay device of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary sealing layer isarranged at corner portions of the display panel and the adhesive layerin a plan view.
 9. The display device of claim 7, wherein each of theadhesive layer and the auxiliary sealing layer comprises a resin curedby irradiation of light.
 10. The display device of claim 9, wherein theresins respectively contained in the adhesive layer and the auxiliarysealing layer are cured by irradiation of light of a same wavelength.11. A display device comprising: a window comprising a display area anda non-display area in a plan view; a light-shielding pattern over thenon-display area of the window and comprising a first area and a secondarea arranged further inward than the first area, the light-shieldingpattern including a lower surface facing the window and an upper surfaceopposite to the lower surface; a resin layer over the window, at least aportion of the resin layer being over the upper surface of thelight-shielding pattern of the second area, the at least a portion ofthe resin layer directly contacting a portion of the upper surface ofthe light-shielding pattern of the second area; and a display panel overthe resin layer, wherein an edge of the display panel over at least oneside protrudes further outward than a corresponding edge of the resinlayer, and wherein the portion of the upper surface of thelight-shielding pattern of the second area which directly contacts theat least a portion of the resin layer has a higher surface free energythan the upper surface of the light-shielding pattern of the first area,and a distance in a thickness direction from the window to the portionof the upper surface of the light-shielding pattern of the second areais less than or equal to a distance in the thickness direction from thewindow to the upper surface of the light-shielding pattern of the firstarea.
 12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the portion of theupper surface of the light-shielding pattern of the second area has asurface tension of 34 dyne/cm or more.
 13. The display device of claim11, wherein the resin layer comprises a resin cured by irradiation oflight.
 14. The display device of claim 11, further comprising anauxiliary sealing layer covering a side surface of the display panel anda corresponding side surface of the resin layer.